With Plastic Free July on the horizon, Wanaka-based singer/songwriter Anna van Riel is preparing to launch her latest music video on July 9th, and help support her audiences to make “simple swaps” when it comes to reducing their single-use waste.
In the guise of her alter-ego Waste Free Wanda, Anna is set to release her NZ on Air funded music video next month. In the music video, an animated Wanda has been transported into an 80’s-stylized video game where she saves her town from single-use plastic, and teaches her community a better way through simple swaps.
The video has been brought together by an animation team made up of interns from Southland Institute of Technology’s animation department, and lead by Traci Meek from creative Invercargill-based business Meek & Wild Creations.
“It’s such a fantastic video! With the help of NZ on Air Music, this has also been an opportunity to offer paid work opportunities to students in the creative sector, which is really cool! I’m excited to share this project. The messaging is simple, the visuals are effective, the song is catchy and the solutions are really achievable” says Anna.
Founder of non-profit organisation Plastic Free Wanaka, Anna launched her Waste Free Wanda stage show in February 2020 after identifying a need for children’s content around waste reduction and caring for the planet. Since then she has taken Wanda on 6 tours across NZ’s lower south, reaching 11,000 children, teachers and parents.
“At Plastic Free Wanaka we have a ‘teach-a-man-to-fish’ philosophy that focuses on giving people solutions about what we can do, rather than just pointing out where we’re falling short. I wanted this philosophy to carry through to my show and empower kids with solutions on waste reduction. They’re all over it, which is fantastic. They’re our future so we need them to understand”.
With a super catchy 1980’s inspired song and a slightly kooky and humorous storyline to boot, the Waste Free Wanda show is gathering momentum.
“My vision for this show is to offer tamariki something that was created especially for them, but is still entertaining for adults. Although the show could be delivered in any country, it’s full of Kiwisms and quirks that Kiwi audiences connect with and appreciate. It teaches children how to be a superhero for our planet, in their own backyard.”
The Waste Free Wanda music video is set for launch on July 9th and can be found via Wanda’s YouTube and Facebook.
To find out more about the Waste Free Wanda show, including how to find resources and to book your show check out www.wastefreewanda.com and Instagram.